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Mercer making some noise

Hes loud, funny  and very confident in his abilities. And he can be all three at once.

The junior swimmer at South Kitsap High can also back up whatever talking he may do.

I like to yell a lot, Mercer said. It gets me pumped up, just the screaming. Most people tell me Im pretty loud, and I get that from my dad. If you ever go to a swim meet, you can always tell (which one is) my dad, because hes always yelling. He doesnt stop.

Mercers dad has had plenty of reason to yell the last two years, as Mercer has become one of the schools top swimmers. He placed seventh in the 100-yard freestyle and 10th in the 50-yard free at last years Class 4A state meet as a sophomore.

He also anchors the Wolves 200- and 400-yard free relay teams.

He has a little bit of everything, South Kitsap swim coach Dennis Anderson says of Mercer. He has a pretty good start, his turns are good, he has a good kick and he has a good feel for the water on his hands. You put all of those together and it makes you a real good swimmer.

A lot of kids have one or two of those things and theyre OK or theyre above average, Anderson said. He comes in and he can do a little bit of everything, hes got a good attitude, and hes got that little intangible in that he competes. He gets it done. Hes a racer. I like to call those kids racers. They just know how to go when its time to go.

Mercer, along with fellow juniors Nick Dargel and Corey Smith, have taken a much larger leadership role this year, sacrificing some of their own practice time to work with the teams younger swimmers.

Hes a motivator, hes kind of a humorous motivator, Anderson said of Mercer. The things he does are funny, but they motivate. He likes to talk to the guys. Hes a good little leader.

Ive always kind of taken charge. Im the team captain right now, and I always step up into the leadership position and kind of help out, Mercer said. Im a little behind where I want to be. Im pretty tired with club practices and high school practices, but Ive had some good swims.

We do focus on them a lot, helping them out with their strokes and their sets, Mercer said. But for me, since I have two practices a day (one with school, the other with the Puget Sound Swim Club), I can really get my workout in in club practice.

Mercer has been swimming in just about every event so far this year, filling in where ever Anderson needs him too, yelling all the while.

Normally, by the end of a meet, Ive lost my voice, Mercer said. By the end of the week, I have no voice. Yelling is kind of my thing.

So is humor.

I get to wear a speedo, Mercer deadpans when asked about his favorite part of swimming.

But when he gets serious, he is very opinionated.

Its just a great exercise, Mercer says of swimming. Its a real sport. I dont mean to dog any of the other sports, but in some other sports, it doesnt take any skill or determination. Swimming takes determination , hard work in practice and commitment.

Mercer credits his sisters, Megan and Erin, for getting him started in competitive swimming.

I like the competitive part, Mercer said. Im real competitive. I kind of always wanted to do more of a team sport, more of a physical sport, but swimming is really competitive, and I really like that.

Its kind kind of drive that has Mercer high on Andersons personal list of his best all-time swimmers.

Hes been in my top 10, Anderson said. Maybe in the lower part of the top 10. He could end up being one of the better swimmers to come out of here, and weve had a bunch of good ones. He could be one of the top 5 swimmers coming out of here. Hes got the talent. A lot of work and a little luck, thats what it takes.

With his senior season still to come, Mercer is concentrating on a run at state in his familiar events, the 100- and 50-yard frees and all three team relays.

Then its off to college and beyond.

My dad says (to go to college) in-state because hes been to everyone of my meets, Mercer said. He doesnt want to miss any while Im in college, but Id like to go to USC. Im looking at nationals in the years to come, division I college and maybe, someday, the Olympic trials.

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